Backing up stuff, how?

Question

Hi,
Im trying to create a backup "game plan"
This is my current scenario:
1. Imac internal HD (232 GB capacity, 70GB left): Applications, all my music projects (60GB) using the program Ableton live, and some downloads.
2. 150GB External HD (17GB left): Currently has all my pictures, all my mp3s, all my drums loops, all my personal documents, etc. Everytime I import new photos and mp3s I "told" the Mac to store them on folders on this Ext HD.
3. New External HD 1 TB, Western Digital: empty for now, new; I have read Im supposed to partition part of it to 233 GB which is the capacity of my internal HD on my Imac. I have installed the program, Carbon Copy
Not sure which route to take, where to put what, which files to duplicate, and how to use of both External HDs. Not sure how to double check if new 1Tb drive is formatted for Mac as box says and how to do the partition.

Answer 1

Time Machine is a great solution if you deal with many files on a regular basis and may accidentally delete one or more and need instant access to get it back. No complaints about Time machine for that.
It is ideal that different backups are on different drives, as in case the backup drive fails, you have others, i.e. more security. However many people do not have access to many drives for financial or other reasons. I feel that If you need to have all your backups on one drive then do, it would be very unlucky to have your main drive and backup go at once, although technically possible.
Your 1 TB drive was an excellent buy, you have ample room for backups, and other files if necessary.
My suggestion is as follows.
A Partition (named accordingly) that is an exact clone of your main boot drive, 233GB in capacity and get Carbon Copy cloner to backup to this at regular intervals of your choice.
Time machine is a no brainer in my book, especially since you seem to be into music composition etc with regular changes to files that may accidentally be saved over etc. Ideally double the capacity of what you wish to backup is good. Time machine works on the basis that it backs up everything except what you tell it not to. You may wish to exclude big system folders as these will be in the clone, but as you have ample space I would backup everything. This would result in a 466GB partition named Time Machine.
So far 699 of about 930GB. Your 1TB drive's actual capacity is about 930GB
Now to my main point.
Many people associate external drives as backups and internals with the fact of failure and loss of data. Your 150GB drive, even though external, is subject to failure also, and you have pictures and mp3's on this, and to my reading you don't have backed up anywhere else. I would suggest a 150GB partition to backup these files with Carbon Copy Cloner.
So far that is 849GB of 930GB
That leaves you with about 81GB left over.
Due to the fact that you only have 17GB left on your 150GB drive, you may wish to use these final GB's as additional storage, but do remember these GB's won't be backed up. You may decide to just extend your Time Machine partition with this extra.
This is just my suggestion and plenty of people here may agree or disagree, but this is the sort of setup I have had for years, and having had multiple drive failures, I have never lost data for good. I say never very cautiously, as here in Ireland, Murphy's law tends to happen a lot!!
If you need help on how to partition drives (very simple with disk utility as the previous poster said, open it up, select the drive, select partition, keep hitting the plus button until you have enough partitions, making sure the format is correct and hit apply. This is very rough!!) just post back here and I'll give a thorough walk through.
Also, Carbon Copy cloner is pretty easy, but I'll assist if you need.
I hope it doesn't sound like I am taking you to be stupid, just trying to help!!
Regards